Introductory Statement

Abstract

Soil, like air and water, is essential to support life on earth. Over 90% of human food and livestock feed is produced on the land, on soils which vary in quality and extent. Although the world’s current development and progress is characterized by urbanization and globalization, rural areas will remain the major production area for the world’s food demand, which is steadily increasing due to rapid population growth, especially in developing countries. But most of the world’s soils, the fragile basis for agricultural production, are threatened by human mismanagement, unsustainable land-use practices, severe degradation and desertification.